Caribou crash sends two to hospital, totals two vehicles

CARIBOU, Maine — Three people escaped serious injury Tuesday afternoon when a tractor-trailer struck a vehicle on Sweden Street.

Caribou police Officer Doug Bell said that the crash happened just after 2:15 p.m.

Stephen Bouchard, 41, of Frenchville was southbound on the roadway hauling a load of wood chips in the tractor-trailer when he apparently did not a notice a 2007 GMC truck that had stopped in front of him to turn off the route.

Bouchard struck the back of the GMC, which was driven by Larry Lavalle, 72, of Caribou. The force of the crash spun the GMC into a 1998 Honda that was parked in a nearby parking lot.

All involved were wearing seat belts.

Bell said that Lavalle and a juvenile passenger in his vehicle were treated for minor injuries and then released from Cary Medical Center in Caribou.

Bouchard was not injured.

Bell said that heavy rain falling at the time limited visibility.

The GMC and the Honda are total losses, according to Bell. The tractor-trailer had damage to its bumper.

No charges will be filed.

The Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department assisted at the scene.